Real-world practices and challenges of radiologically isolated syndrome: results of a cross-sector survey by the DACH MS guidelines group - Scorecard - MDSpire

Real-world practices and challenges of radiologically isolated syndrome: results of a cross-sector survey by the DACH MS guidelines group

  • By

  • Friederike Held

  • Antonios Bayas

  • Katharina Christe

  • Christian Dettmers

  • Burkhard Domurath

  • Juliane Ebert

  • Edeltraud Faßhauer

  • Peter Flachenecker

  • Jutta Gärtner

  • Dzenita Hasanbasic

  • Christoph Heesen

  • Harald Hegen

  • Thomas Henze

  • Peter Huppke

  • Veronika Kana

  • Michael Khalil

  • Ruth Kirschner-Hermanns

  • Thomas Korn

  • Tania Kümpfel

  • Sabine Lamprecht

  • Uwe Meier

  • Gerd Meyer zu Horste

  • Mathias Mäurer

  • Frederike Cosima Oertel

  • Caroline Pot

  • Anne-Katrin Pröbstel

  • Kevin Rostásy

  • Anke Salmen

  • Jutta Scheiderbauer

  • Markus Schmidt

  • Erwin Stark

  • Corinna Trebst

  • Regina Trollmann

  • Clemens Warnke

  • Mike P. Wattjes

  • Benedikt Wiestler

  • Brigitte Wildemann

  • Uwe Zimmermann

  • Klaus Gehring

  • Achim Berthele

  • Bernhard Hemmer

  • July 14, 2026

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Clinical Scorecard: Management Practices and Challenges of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome: Findings from a Cross-Sector Survey by the DACH MS Guidelines Group

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionRadiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS)
Key MechanismsIncreased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) with diagnostic uncertainty.
Target PopulationIndividuals with RIS in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Care SettingNeurology practices across university hospitals, teaching hospitals, municipal clinics, and private practices.

Key Highlights

  • 54% of physicians considered therapy initiation for RIS.
  • 69% treated less than 25% of their RIS cases.
  • 61% reported reimbursement challenges as a key obstacle.
  • Only 34% consistently used the 2023 RIS criteria.
  • 72% lacked standardized treatment algorithms.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Comprehensive MRI and CSF analysis recommended for diagnosis.
  • Awareness of the 2023 RIS criteria is variable.

Management

  • Therapy initiation based on high lesion burden, new MRI activity, and inflammatory CSF.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Regular follow-up and assessment of RIS patients are necessary.

Risks

  • Low specificity of RIS criteria complicates treatment decisions.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with RIS at risk for developing MS.

Emerging treatments show promise, but clinical uncertainty remains.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Standardized diagnostic workflows are needed.
  • Harmonization of treatment pathways across the DACH region is essential.
  • Improved patient communication strategies are required.

Related Resources & Content

Original Source(s)

Real-world practices and challenges of radiologically isolated syndrome: results of a cross-sector survey by the DACH MS guidelines group

  • by Friederike Held, Antonios Bayas, Katharina Christe, Christian Dettmers, Burkhard Domurath, Juliane Ebert, Edeltraud Faßhauer, Peter Flachenecker, Jutta Gärtner, Dzenita Hasanbasic, Christoph Heesen, Harald Hegen, Thomas Henze, Peter Huppke, Veronika Kana, Michael Khalil, Ruth Kirschner-Hermanns, Thomas Korn, Tania Kümpfel, Sabine Lamprecht, Uwe Meier, Gerd Meyer zu Horste, Mathias Mäurer, Frederike Cosima Oertel, Caroline Pot, Anne-Katrin Pröbstel, Kevin Rostásy, Anke Salmen, Jutta Scheiderbauer, Markus Schmidt, Erwin Stark, Corinna Trebst, Regina Trollmann, Clemens Warnke, Mike P. Wattjes, Benedikt Wiestler, Brigitte Wildemann, Uwe Zimmermann, Klaus Gehring, Achim Berthele, Bernhard Hemmer

  • July 14, 2026

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